Thinking about ditching your old VR headset for the new Meta Quest 3? A big selling point is the ability to see your real-world surroundings through the headset – but users have been reporting some quirks. The Quest 3 can distort your real hands when using the passthrough mode, and the gesture to access the menu (“look at your palm and pinch your fingers”) can be finicky.

Thankfully, Meta is addressing these issues with the upcoming v66 update. Here’s what you can look forward to:

• Goodbye, awkward hand gestures! The v66 update introduces a new button on your wrist controller. With a simple tap, you can summon the menu, making navigation a breeze.
• Say goodbye to distorted reality! Early reports suggest the v66 update significantly reduces the warping effect seen when viewing your real world through the passthrough mode.

The update also brings some other user-requested improvements:

• Multitask like a pro! Love listening to music while browsing the web in VR? No problem. The v66 update allows background audio to continue playing even when you minimize apps.
• Cleaner app library? Yes please! Annoyed by a cluttered app library? You can now hide any app you don’t use regularly, keeping your view organized.
• High-resolution Netflix is here! Get ready for a sharper streaming experience with support for high-resolution Netflix through the Quest’s web browser.

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• Netflix streaming comes to Meta Quest headsets via web browser

Beyond v66, there are even more exciting developments:

• Smarter environment recognition: The update brings the ability to automatically identify features in your room, like windows, doors, furniture, and even screens. This can enhance the realism of mixed-reality games and applications.
• Effortless photo and video sharing: The update allows you to easily sync photos and videos captured within the VR headset to a web gallery for sharing with friends and family.

Addressing the biggest annoyance: battery life

Let’s be honest, one of the most frustrating things about any VR headset is a dead battery after a short break. There might be some hope on the horizon! John Carmack, a prominent figure in the VR world, suggests improvements in idle power drain. Additionally, the v66 update introduces a new sleep mode that allows the Quest to update in the background while plugged in, potentially reducing the need for constant power cycles.